HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE
POSPISIL SET FOR VAN OPEN
Vasek Pospisil is feeling stronger and playing better, even if his optimism isn’t matched by disappointing results this year.
The 28-year-old Pospisil is coming off a first-round loss to Borna Coric of Croatia (6-4, 6-3) at the Rogers Cup in Toronto.
He also made first-round exits at the French Open and Wimbledon, and has lost nine of his last 13 matches.
However, Pospisil is buoyed by a change in his support team and philosophy in his bid to improve on his No. 94 world ranking by the Association of Tennis Professionals.
Pospisil returns to the Vancouver Open at the Hollyburn Club this week to get his game in order before the U.S. Open next month in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
He faces Benjamin Sigouin, 19, of Vancouver in a feature match tonight.
“It was either here or Cincinnati,” Pospisil said Monday. “I felt this would be a good time to come home and get some match wins, have a positive environment, and get some confidence going. I feel like I’m playing great tennis, and physically, I feel as strong as I’ve been for a few years.
“I just feel it’s a matter of time and this can be the week I get rolling a bit. If not this one, it’s no big deal. I can go week-by-week. Benjamin was on the junior Davis Cup squad and I’ve hit with him before. He’s a good young player.
“I’ll definitely have to be ready to go right from the first point. There are no easy matches on the ATP Tour. Too much depth and too many good young players, and I don’t take anything for granted.”
Pospisil and Jack Sock won the 2014 Wimbledon doubles crown and Pospisil was once ranked fourth in doubles and 25th in singles. Getting his game in order means finding a measure of con- sistency from set-to-set, not just game-to-game.
“I’m confident if I play a sharp match,” said Pospisil. “Tennis is very unpredictable, but the new coaching team I have around me is about being more solid overall. Consistency has lacked over my career. I’ve had great wins and great moments, but it’s getting to a more consistent level.
“My team kind of got destabilized. I now have a consistent fitness trainer and the same coach. I was kind of lacking in the fitness department, which is an essential part of the sport. To get to the ball and move well for three to five sets, I’m physically as good as I’ve been ... and that’s just come the last few weeks.
“I’m trying to be patient because I know it can turn around at any moment.”
Pospisil has represented Canada in Davis Cup and Olympic competition. At Wimbledon in 2015, Pospisil reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in his singles career before losing to No. 3 Andy Murray. At Indian Wells, Calif., in March 2017, he scored a second-round win over Murray.
“I feel like I’ve really worked for it, and the success is satisfying and singles is just more rewarding overall,” added Pospisil. “It’s also the culture of the sport. You start playing singles because that’s what’s televised and the incentive and rewards are much higher. Even though I’ve had good doubles results, I’m still 100 per cent focused on singles.
“Doubles is something you get into later. I realize I’m 28 and getting older, but I’m reaching what should be the best years of my career, at my physical peak. But I see these young guys, and I’m 10 years older, and it’s kind of crazy to think about that.”